Garment-fastener.



No. 759,683. PATENTED MAY 10, 1904. W. I. DREISBAGH.

GARMENT FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED PEILQB, 1903.

K0 MODEL.

Patented May 10, 1904."

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

l/VILLIAM I. IDREISBACH, OF WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA,

ASSIG-NOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROMEYN L. SMITH, OF NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY.

GARMENT-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,683, dated May 10, 1904.

Application filed February 28, 1903. Serial No. 145,564. (No model.)

T0 in 'LIIhIOIIZ/ it natty concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM I. DRETSRAOH,

capable of general use as a garment-fastener as, for instance, in connection with gloves, skirt-plackets, trousers-waistbands, Sue.

The object of the invention is to produce a simple, durable, and inexpensive fastener consisting of two parts or members stamped from sheet metal and presenting a comparatively smooth surface which will preclude the possibility of injury to garments which may be brought into contact with the fastener in use.

A further object is to produce a fastener which while securely locked against accidental release may be quickly and conveniently unfastened by slight pressure in the proper direction.

Subordinate to these general objects are others, which will be made apparent during the following description of those embodiments of the invention, which for the purposes of this disclosure are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of a pair of corset-stays formed at inter vals with my fasteners. Fig. 21s a transverse sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is still another sectional view on the line 1 4: of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an edge view of a stay formed with the female clasp member. Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the female-and male clasp members formed integral with the stays. Fig. 8 is an elevation of the garment-fastener design ed for general use, and Figs. 9 and 10 are detailed views of modified forms of the male member. Fig. 11 is a detail view of the femalemember or blank prior to the formation of the depression therein.

Like numerals of reference are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the views.

1 and 2 indicate a pair of corset-stays formed from sheet-steel or other metal, as usuall At regular intervals these stays are retained by a plurality of independent fastening devices. The stay 1, which for the purposeof this description may be designated as a plate, is formed, as best shown in Fig. 6, with an angular depression 3, preferably of T shape. This depression is formed by stamping the metal back from the plane of the plate, two angular slits 1 having first been cut in the blank, as indicated in Fig. 11. By reason of the formation of these slits L the depression of the metal will leave a pair of cars 5 in the plane of the plate and delining the opposite reentrant angles a and 7) of the depression 3 at opposite sides of what may be termed the stem 6 of saiddepression. (See Fig. 6.) These ears are designed to constitute springretaining devices, and fora reason, which will be hereinafter made apparent, are given a transverse curvature to bring their rear edges 7 somewhat nearer the bottom of thedepression 3. lVhile it is not necessary it is perhaps preferable to strengthen the plate by forming the latter with a fillet 8 beyond the depression 3 and with other iillcts9 and 10 in that portion of the metal, which forms'the opposite side walls of the depression at points closely adjacent to the front edge 110i the stay 1.

The male member of the fastener is formed. integral with the plate or stay 2 and comprises a T-shaped projection 12, comprising a stem 13, extending laterally from one edge of the plate 2 and provided with ahead 14:, which is given more orless inherent resiliency by imparting thereto a curved cross-sectional contour, as shown in Fig. 7. This T-shaped member corresponds in general form to the T-shaped depression in the plate 1 and is designed to be received within the latter when the edges of the garment to be fastened have been drawn into close proximity. The stem 13 of the male member is preferably provided with a longitudinal fillet 15 for the purpose of lending rigidity thereto.

When it is desired to fasten the stays 1 and 2, their edges are brought together until the T-shaped male member 12 is brought opposite the T-shaped depression 3. The two stays being then moved into the same plane will cause the member lQ to be received within the depression 3, and slight separation of the stays will then cause the head 14 to be drawn under the spring-ears 5, which will thus be caused to yield slightly and to snap over the transversely-curved head 14 to retain the latter against accidental release. When the head 14 of the male member is thus drawn under the spring-ears 5, which, with the exception of the back-turned edges thereof, are flush with the front or outer face of the plate, it is clamped between said ears and the bottom wall of the depression. The bottom wall of the depression therefore constitutes a guard at the rear side of the clasp to wit, the side nearest the wearerand also constitutes a clamping member, the clamping action being still further augmented by the inherent resiliency of the head 14. If, however, it is desired to unclasp the stays, it is simply necessary to exert sufficient force upon the meeting edges of the garment to spring the head 14 back from under the retaining-ears 5, and thus restore the coincidental relation of the depression 3 and the male member 13, when, as will be apparent, the members may be moved apart and the meeting edges of the garment released.

By reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that when the clasp is fastened the outer or front sides of the plates or stays will be located in the same plane and that no part of the fastening projects in a manner to injure an outer garment, as is the case with ordinary corsetclasps comprising projecting studs and eyes fitted thereover. On the contrary,the various parts of the fastener are all dropped back from the outer plane of the stays, and the protuberance on the reverse side is of such character that injury to the garment underlying the corset will also be avoided.

As has already been stated, my garmentfastener, while particularly useful as a corsetclasp, is equally adapted for a large variety of other uses. In fact, its applicability is as varied as that of the ordinary hook and eye, and I have therefore illustrated several modifications which, among others, are in contemplation. In Fig. 8, for instance, the female member of the fastener is formed in a small plate slotted, as indicated at 1 for the accommodation of securing-threads, and the male member is similarly formed with a slotted plate 2. This form of the device is particular] y applicable as a glove, waistband, placket, or other similar fastener.

'In Fig. 9 a transversely-curved bar 2 is substituted for the slotted plate 2 in Fig. 8,

the curvature serving to present a smooth surface which will not tend to out through the threads whipped over the bar and passed through the fabric.

In Fig. 10 is shown a clasp member provided with retaining-prongs 2 for securing the same to the garment without the use of threads. Obviously the plate in which the female member of the fastening is formed may be similarly provided with prongs in lieu of the slots 1 It is thought that from the foregoing the construction, mode of manipulation, and general adaptability of my improved fastener will be clearly comprehended; but while the present embodiments of the invention are thought at this time to be preferable I wish to be distinctly understood as reserving to myself the right to effect such changes, modifications, and variations of the illustrated structures as may be fairly embraced within the scope of the protection prayed.

What I claim is 1. A garment-fastener comprising a plate formed with a depression and with a retaining part bent back from the plate toward the bottom of the depression to produce a constricted interval, and a cooperating member substantially corresponding with the depression and adapted to be drawn under the retaining part by a separative movement of the members and thus clamped between said part and the bottom of the depression.

2. A garment-fastener comprising a plate member formed with a depression and with a retaining part flush with the front face of the plate and having a portion bent back toward the bottom of the depression to produce a constricted interval, and a cooperating member substantially corresponding with the depression and adapted to be drawn under the retaining part by a separative movement of the members and thus clamped between said part and the bottom of the depression.

3. A garment-fastener comprising a plate formed with an angular depression, and with a resilient retaining partlocated in a reentrant angle of said depression, and a cooperating angular member adapted to be drawn between the retaining part and the bottom of the depression.

4. A garment-fastener comprising a plate formed with an angular depression extending from one edge of the plate, and with a resilient retaining part located in a reentrant angle of the depression, and a cooperating angular member substantially corresponding with the depression and adapted to be drawn under the retaining part by a separative movement of the members and thus clamped between said part and the bottom of the depression.

5. A garment fastener comprising a flat plate having a portion thereof bent back from the plane of the plate to form a substantially T-shaped depression extending from one edge IIO of the plate and a pair of resilient ears each located at opposite angles of the depression, and a substantially T shaped cooperating member, the head of which is adapted to be drawn under the ears by a separative move ment of the members and thus clamped between said ears and the bottom of the depression.

6. A garment-fastener comprising a fiat plate bent to form a substantially T-shaped depression extending from one edge of the plate, and said plate having a pair of transversely-curved resilient retaining-ears located at opposite rcentrant angles of the depression, and a substantially T shaped cooperating member comprising a stem and a transverselycurved head adapted to be drawn under the ears and retained thereby.

7. A garment-fastener comprising a flat plate bent to form a substantially T-shaped depression extending from one edge of the plate and said plate having integral retainingears located at the opposite angles of the depression, and a second plate having a substantially T-shaped member extended from its edge, the head of said member being of greater size than the interval between the bottom oi? the depression and the adjacent edges of the ears, whereby the parts are compelled to yield when the head is drawn under the ears.

8. A garment-fastener comprising a plate member formed with an angular depression extending from one edge thereof, and with an integral retaining part flush with the front face of the plate and having one edge bent back toward the bottom of the depression, and a cooperating member corresponding with the depression and adapted to be drawn under the retaining part by a separative movement of the members and thus clamped between said part and the bottom of the depression.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiiixod my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM I. DREISBAGH.

Witnesses:

M. H. CLARK, J. T. SAnLim. 

